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How Should Mets Handle Yankees’ Success?

So, how should the Mets handle the obvious news the Yankees are back to being the bullies on the New York City block?

No question, 2015 and 2016 was fun while it lasted, but the essence of winning is to sustain it, and do it again, and again. Whether the Yankees can do that remains to be seen, but they but have the necessary building blocks the Mets didn’t.

The Yankees have a solid bullpen, while the Mets don’t. The Mets have the potential of a good, but not a great pen, but clearly, there’s a gap.

The Yankees have several good, young starters, while the Mets supposedly had the best young rotation in the majors. Suffice to say, that never happened, and Jacob deGromis the only healthy arm the Mets can count on for next season.

The Yankees have a reputation with general manager Brian Cashman and the Steinbrenner ownership group of not being handcuffed when it comes to a willingness to spend to reach the next level. The Mets’ reputation with GM Sandy Alderson and the Wilpons is the opposite.

That’s four categories with the Yankees holding the edge in each one.

So, if you’re the Mets, what should you do?

The Mets’ first decision is to ignore the Yankees, regardless what happens tonight in Houston. The Mets don’t compete with the Yankees for anything other than the back pages of the tabloids, which in the grand scheme of things is irrelevant. Let the Yankees enjoy their success and just concentrate on your own business.

The Mets’ second step – not surprisingly – is to hire a new manager, and I’m guessing it will beManny Actabased on managerial experience.

Alderson has a lot of work to do, beginning with devising a rebuilding plan. It won’t be exactly going to Square One, but it is close. Alderson said he expects the Mets to be competitive in 2018, but hasn’t defined what that means. It should be noted the Mets finished 22 games below .500 this season.

It’s a stretch to think, even if they get all their players back that they’ll improve by 28 games, which would tie them at 87-75, the record of the Colorado Rockies, the second wild card in the National League.

Bullpen: Alderson has never been able to build a reliable bullpen, but there’s potential with Jeurys Familia, AJ Ramosand Jerry Blevins. If one or two of the arms they acquired when they stripped themselves of their veterans at the trade deadline. Even so, they shouldn’t pass on getting a quality reliever in free agency.

Outfield: Conforto and Yoenis Cespedesare recovering from significant injuries and both are questionable to be ready for the start of the season. That leaves Nimmo and Juan Lagares as the only reliable outfielders, and the Mets are sold on the latter.

Second/third base: The Mets are expected to bring back Jose Reyesand/orAsdrubal Cabrera, but both? That might be a stretch. I believe Cabrera is better at both positions and could be a better offensive threat. But, Reyes is a better shortstop replacement. Is that enough?

Should Alderson address all four in the positive the Mets should be better, but will it be enough for the playoffs?

3 thoughts on “How Should Mets Handle Yankees’ Success?”

Starting pitching: Jake, Thor. No one else. Matt looks to be done. Steve is always hurt. Zack never was. Lugo and Gsellman need to prove they belong. That means bring in at least a back of the rotation guy who can pitch innings.

Bullpen: arguably we have a pen. We have enough young arms and enough holdovers to be reliable. There are questions on all. I rather have a quality starting group than quality pen. Having a good pen with starters that only go 5 will lose games.

Outfield: injuries rule. Mike and yoenis are our best players and they have significant injuries. Juan has not proven he can hit and Brandon looks like a serviceable bench player. They need to get an outfielder as they have nothing in the minors

2nd/3rd: they need to get a third baseman. I would bring back Asdrubal. He is a better hitter. If you want a backup ss we have one. Gavin. He is cheaper and better than Jose. Need I remind you he hit below 200 most of the year? He is a serviceable infielder who has all the flaws of his younger days without the talent. Oh, we need a third baseman.

And yes. The yanks are a better team. Fire the Mets owners lets start with that to improve the team.

The Mets comparison to the Yankees is irrelevant. They don’t compete with them except for fair weather fans. They compete with the Phils, gnats, fish and braves. They compete with the rest of the NL for wild card spot. They compete with the Yanks for 4 or 6 games. And even wit that you tell us the Yanks have better young starters. I see one unless C.C. Gray Tanaka are suddenly young. You say they can’t improve by 28 games. Why not the Twinkies did and they sold off in July. Shall I go on